The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-02-10
IN THEIR POWER.

IN THEIR POWER.
The Republican Senate Cons.dered ~ .
Creature Of the Corporations.
The argus has had occasion, fire.
quently, to call attention to the de-
cadence of the United States Senate
and the enormous influence welded in
that body by corporations. The re-
proach, uttered two years ago, that
''the Senate is merely an association of
railroad attorneys and Spectators, not
only useless to the Nation, but posi-
lively injurious to its best in
terests. J" acquires more signif-
canoe in the light of present ex-
perience. We see on every hand the
power and influence of great corpor.
ations cxerted to the utmost to retain
control of a body which once repre-
sented the most intellectual most pa
triotic and most incorruptible men in
the Nation. Brains are no longer con-
sidered necessary qualification for
the Office, and Legislatures are beseiged
by moneyed influence to control their
choice for men who, without money,
would never be thought of for seat in
the United States Senate. The compe-
tition to such a seat is no longer
open to men who can Intellectually
fill it. The power of the corpo-
rations is being exerted in New
Jersey to deprive the people of that
Democratic State of the right of be-
ing represented at Washington by a
Democratic Senator. The same
malign influence is felt in Indiana,
and no means, revolutionary or un-
constitutional, is left untried to per-
vert the will of the people and keep
the United States Senate under the
control of the corporations. The
Brooklyn Citizen, that stanch Demo
cratic newspaper, gives solemn
warning on the subject, which appeals
to the earnest reflection of the Ameri-
can people:
With the upper House of the National Legis.
lature in the hands Of unscrupulous and
banded wealth, the Administration and the
popular branch are alike paralyzed, and the
victories won for the plain people by the defeat
Of Mr.. Blaine and redemption Of the House
from Republican control are hopelessly thrown
away. By every foul MEANS the Democratic
strength In the Legislatures Is undermined by
the money of the corporations, and the control
is bought for them through the Republicans.
There is no longer the slightest attempt at con.
cealment The Republican party is openly
owned by the capitalists of the country, and
the rights Of the plain people are being stolen
from them.
These corporations know too well
that only through the Republican party
can their interests be protected, even
when they clash with those of the peo-
pie. They know too well that while
the Senate is in Republican hands no
bill in the interests of the whole peo-
pie is likely to be adopted, but an un-
surmountable barrier is opposed to the
just and reasonable demands of the
Taxpayers and of labor organizations,
whose growing power they fear. They
know that when they succeed, through
buying up legislatures or bulldozing a
a Democratic Legislature by riotous
methods, in putting their creatures
again in control of the Senate, they
will have under their thumb for term
of years department of the Govern
1nent SO far beyond the reach of public
opinion as to be practically unaffected
by its censure.-Albasy argus.
Frauds Must Be Stopped.
The Pension Appropriation bill ag-
gregates $76,247,5 500. This is consid-
cradle increase over the bill of last
year, and that one was greater than
any of its predecessors by $15, ZOO, 900.
The war closed twenty-one years ago
and the fact as disclosed by this bill
that the pension list is increasing both
in number and volume is to say tho
least remarkable.
The Pension Appropriation bill is
supposed to cover only the actual
amounts necessary to pay the pen
sions and cover the expenses OF
the bureau. There is no chance
for frauds or deceptions in it.
The commissioners submit to Con.
gress list of the pensioners, the
amount that each is entitled to, and the
cost of disbursing the fund and keep
ing the records. A bill covering that
sumis passed, and thatis the end of it.
The fact is the pension list is in
creasing every year, and the probable
tiles are that it will continue to in
crease for some years to come. This
result is reached by the amendments
to the. pension laws almost annually
passed, and to the vast number of
private pension bills enacted every
year. While the people are not dis
posed to complain of the cost of this
branch of the Government, the SOL
diers, for their own protection, and
for their own credit, ought to see that
frauds on the pension list are stopped.
Harrisburg Patriot.
The fourth class postmasters
alone number more than 81 900, and
their remuneration being based on the
value of the stamps they cancel, the re-
duction in the rate of letter postage
from three to two cents cut away one
third of their incomes at blow. None
of them can earn above s., 900 a year.
and it is quite safe to say that any one
of them who approaches that sum has
to hire help for his Office, besides pay
ing for rent, fuel and other expenses.
The postmaster of the third class has
to meet still heavier expenses out of a
meager salary, has to provide his own
boxes, etc., while for the literally paid
postmasters of the first and second
class the Government provides officers,
clerks and accommodations. Mr..
James, Mr. Villas and other Post
masters-General have deprecated the
continuance of such system as unfair
and illiberal, and it certainly deserves